At least 9 deaths as Israeli forces storm Gaza aid ship

The international community should not remain indifferent in the face of this attack in the international waters, some 69 nautical miles from Israeli territorial waters which targeted civilians including women, children, the elderly and religious officials from different faiths. It was a violation of the international laws.

It is impossible to accept ignorance of lives of defenceless civilians who were trying to take humanitarian aid to Gazan people. Israel isolates its people with such policies. I wish that Israeli politicians and state will put an end to this situation.

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OFFICE OF BARONESS ASHTON, EU HIGH REPRESENTATIVE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

High Representative Catherine Ashton expresses her deep regret at the news of loss of life and violence and extends her sympathies to families of the dead and wounded. On behalf of the European Union, she demands a full inquiry about the circumstances in which this happened.

She reiterates the European Union's position regarding Gaza - the continued policy of closure is unacceptable and politically counterproductive... She calls for an immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of the crossing for the flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons to and from Gaza.

If I were an evil dictator, unconnected to any particular country, I would tell them to sort their shit out, or I'd warn them to evacuate before destroying Jerusalem, Israel *and* Palestine and letting them fight over a wasteland of glass. They'd probably still fight over it though.

Or I'd bring an army in, take over and say "ok, *none* of you can have the land now".

Complete bullshit, I know, but really - how is this going to end? Will it ever end?

Today in the news some people killed one another for no good reason at all. Tomorrow in the news some people will kill one another for no good reason at all. The next day in the news some poeple will kill one another for no good reason at all. The next day in the news some poeple will kill one another for no good reason at all. The next day in the news some poeple will kill one another for no good reason at all. The next day in the news some poeple will kill one another for no good reason at all.

I would like to be optimistic Genji, but like Northern Ireland, it's a complex situation that can't really be solved fully, only compromised on to an extent, and in the case of Israel and Palestine I'm not sure if even that is possible.

Genji wrote:
Complete bullshit, I know, but really - how is this going to end? Will it ever end?

It will only end when the international community (the US) decides it will. Israel will continue to do what it does with impunity (thanks to the unconditional support of the US) and the Palestinians will continue to suffer and impotently strike back on occasion, causing more atrocities about which no one will say anything. Both sides use terrorism, that much is clear, but the power is clearly not balanced.

What I don't understand is why Israeli commandos stormed it in the first place. A few days ago Israel said it's ships would block the aid ship from entering Gazan waters and redirect it, before arresting and deporting the activists. Seemed like a more sensible approach and its not like it doesn't have the battleships to achieve this.

I think there is a loophole in the 'piracy' charge which would allow them to intercept vessels that have been warned and that continue heading into a blockaded area. Ofc, then you have the problem of whether the blockade is legal or not.